tcnv 


Duke  University  Libraries 

Response  of  Sec 
Conf  Pam  #474 

DTTD2EDblT 


[3EQRET  ] 


SENATE,  r)e(emT)er  l7.  lSs04^.— .Qrderfd'm'"Be  pHnied. 


RESPONSE  OF  SECRETARY  OF  WAR, 

To  the  ResolutioDs  of  the  Senate,  adopted  Deeemhre'r  5t'h,  1864,  re- 
specting operations  usder  the  act  of  6th  February,  lb64. 


Confederate  STATi!;s  of  America,  ) 

War  Department,  > 

Richmond,  December  lO,  1864.      ) 

To  the  President : 

I  have  the  honor  to  su:  mit  uiy  .  uswer  to  the  enclosed  resolutions 
of  the  ;*enate,  transmitted  by  you  to  me.  (Resolutions  adopted  on 
the  5th  inst.,  in  relation  to  the  act  of  Gth  February,  l8!]4.) 

1.  The  tenth  clause  ot  tie  regulations  established  under  the  act 
of  February  6:h,  1864,  is  as  follows: 

•'  IS'otl.inu  in,the>e  regularicns  shall  bes'>  construed  as  to  conflict 
with  the  proviso  of  the  lav  which  declares  '  that  aothins?  in  this  act 
shall  be  Cv^nsirued  to  prohibit  the  Confederate  States,  or  any  of 
them,  from  exportina:  any  of  the  articles  herein  ennmerated  on  tiieir 
own  account,"  nor  shall  a  bond  be  required  of  a  State  in  any  case." 

In  executing  this  clause  no  restrir tion  has  been  imposed  upon 
any  State,  ar.d  no  l>tate  has  been  asked  to  give  a  bond,  as  ijequired 
of  all  private  owners.  All  vessels,  except  those  owned  cxclasire- 
ly  by  states,  a  e  subjected  to  the  *'  Regulations,"  and  compelled  to 
carry  out  cotton  and  bring  in  supplies  for  the  C.  S.  Government. 
If  a  state  should  be  a  subscriber  to  one  of  the  joint  st.ck  compi- 
nies  for  runnii  g  the  blockade,  or  in  partnership  with  private  indi- 
viduals in  a  ve-sel.  such  ves-el  would  beheld  r-s  subject  to  the 
"  Kegulations,'"  but  all  vessels  and  cargofs  belon.'!  ng  to  states  are 
held  to  be  entirely  exempt  and  no  restriction  attacaes  to  them. 

2.  rhe  number  of  vessels  engaged  in  running  the  blockade  has 
steadily  increased  since  the  establishment  of  the  "  Regulations," 
and  is  now  larcrer  than  at  any  time  before.  Many  new  steamers 
are  undo  stood  to  be  on  the  way  to  engage  in  the  business ;  this  too, 
though  the  stringency  of  the  blockade  is  supposed  to  have  been 
constantly  augmenting. 

3.  The  ••Regulations"  have  been  beneScial  te  the  C.  S.  Govern- 
ment in  furnishing  the  means  abroad  to  purchase  supplies  and  mu- 
uiiionaof  war,  atd  the  tonnage  required  to  transport  them  to  oar 
ports.  Prior  to  the  passage  of  tiio  Act,  owners  ot  steamers,  upon 
application  of  tiie  Secretary  of  War,  conceded  to  the  C.  S.  Govern- 


ment  a  portion  of  their  tonnap^e  for  outward  and  inward  cargoes, 
but  the  Act  of  Con,<?ress,  and  the  "Regulations"  under  it,  were  ne- 
cessary to  secure  uniformity,  and  to  compel  such  persons  as  were 
reluctant  to  make  the  concession.  The  annexed  statement,  show- 
ing :  (1)  qrantity  of  cotton  exported  for  the  C.  S.  Government  and 
its  estimated  value;  (2)  the  leading  articles  imported,  exhibits  some 
of  the  substantial  advantages  that  have  accrued  to  the  C.  S.  Go- 
vernment. 

0»r  apents  abroad  represent  that  the  Act  and  "  Regulations  " 
have  been  in  the  highest  degree  beneficial  in  appreciating  the  pub- 
lic credit,  and  enabling  them  to  procure  additional  supplies  at  re- 
duced rates 

4.  It  would  be  exceedingly  inexpedient  to  repeal  the  Act,  and 
experience  has  not  suggested  to  me  any  modification  or  amendment 
as  necessary.  On  the  contrary,  the  Act  jand  "Regulations"  are  fast 
becoming  well  understood,  and  the  C.  S.  Government  is  apprecia- 
ting more  and  more  the  benefits  resulting  from  them. 

The  duty  attaches  peculiarly  to  the  C.  S.  Government  to  provide 
supplies  and  munitions  of  war  for  the  public  defence  ;  and  it  is  bet- 
ter, in  every  respect,  that  this  duty  should  be  wholly  performed  by 
the  C.  S.  Govenment,  especially  when  in  devolving  any  portion  of 
it  upon  the  states,  the  means,  to  that  extent,  are  withdrawn  from 
the  C.  S.  Government.  If  a  concession  is  made  for  the  states  to 
chaner  vessels,  and  if  such  vessels  be  exempted  from  the  operations 
of  the  "Regulations."  each  state  becomes  a  competitor  with  every 
other  state  and  the  C  S.  Government.  The  uniformity  contempla- 
ted by  the  Act  of  Congress  will  be  destroyed.  Cqmpetitive  char- 
ters will  be  1)  ade,  not  only  to  secure  ships,  but  to  secure  the  entry 
to  particular  ports.  If  one  state  undertakes  to  supply  its  troops, 
every  other  state  will  be  compelled  to  undertake  the  same  duty. 
Unequal  provision  for  the  soldiers  of  different  states  will  create 
jealousy  and  dissatisfaction  among  them,  and  ultimately  the  C  S. 
Government  will  have  to  reimburse  the  states.  The  competition 
of  the  states  with  each  other,  and  with  the  Confederate  States, 
would,  i  fear,  extend  to  transportation  over  the  railroads,  where 
it  was  inadequate  to  the  delivery  at  the  seaports  of  cargoes  for  all 
vessels  partially  owned  or  chartered  by  them.  Agencies  at  home 
and  abroad  would  be  largely  multiplied,  which  would  aggravate 
this  competition  in  every  form.  It  may  be  safely  assumed  that  all 
vessels  will  run  under  the  "Regulations,"  carrying  out  cotton  and 
bringing  in  supplies,  for  the  C.  S.  Government,  unless  they  can 
make  more  advantagrous  arrangements  with  particular  states. 
Whatever,  therefore,  is  gained  by  sucn  arrangements  will  accrue 
to  individuals,  and  will  be  so  much  substracted  from  the  U.  S.  Go- 
vernment. 

The  resolutions  are  general  in  their  charar-ter,  and  seem  to  justify, 
indeed  to  call  for,  the  expression  of  these  views. 
1  have  the  honor  to  be, 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

JAMES  A  SEDDON, 
Secretary  of  War. 


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Packages  Leather. 

Pigs  Lead. 

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Packages  Saltpetre. 

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Packages  Revolvers 

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Pkg'g  Boots  k  Shoes 

Baies  Blankets. 


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Packages  Meat. 


Cases  Rifles. 


Packages  Coffee. 


Canoon. 


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5?  I    ^       tA 


Packages  Copper. 


Casks  Lead, 


Cases  Swerils. 


OolU  Rope. 


Packages  Medicine. 


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SHIPMENTS  nf  Ooiton  since  1st  March,  1864. 

"Account  Nitre  and  Mining  Bureau, 
"        Medical  Dejartaiont, 
"        Engineer  Department, 
"        CoiDmissary  Departiut'nt, 
*•        Quartermaster's  Department, 
"        Or-h^ance  Department, 

To  say  War  Department, 
"  NiTy  Department, 
"        Treasury  Department,  12.840  and  one-half  of 

Contract  bteamers,  G,974-a.4?7,  10,327 


873- 

328 

57 

1,248 

1,829 

1,776 

6.111 

4  8G1 

Bsh?:  27.299 


Bales,  27,299  at  ,£40  .average  ;  value   Xl.091,960  at 
$4  85,  $5.29fi,00fi 

Equal  in  currency  at  25  to  1.  $132,400,160- 


penmaliPe* 

pH8.5 


